GALLERY

A sense of stillness, the presence of others, inhibition and visual attention bring the body and mind into focus. 

The Tire Dance

Using a ramp and a box to jump off, The Tire Dance was originally created to help children learn to bend their knees. Over time it was used to increase awareness of other body parts, memory, planning, sequencing, dealing with one's own weight and moving forward and backward in space.

Imitation is one of the key ways that young people learn to move and acquire knowledge, new skills and social interaction. The ability to imitate is thought to be associated with the Mirror Neuron System. It is proposed that a dysfunction of the Mirror Neuron System negatively impacts imitative skills.

Practicing arrows and straight shapes.

Learning to hold the body still through co-contraction extends a child's attention span.

Finding postural control and alignment takes time.

Repetition is the key to success. 

Strength and range of motion.

Experiencing internal rhythm teaches about time and sense of self.

As part of the Dance Motion USA/BAM program, The Limón Dance Company took a two day KoganSteps workshop to learn to work with people with disabilities for their upcoming African tour.

Francisco Ruvalcaba, from the Limón Dance Company, uses a weighted prop.

Weighted props provide input to the body and can increase body awareness. 

[Photo: Jennifer Holub]

Limón Company members explore ways to help people with lower body weakness

to improve postural control and alignment.

[Photo: Jennifer Holub]

Participants practice using weighted props. These hoops are filled with sand and are heavy. Pulling, pressing and pushing increase input to the body. 

Deep pressure helps to calm the nervous system.

Finding joy in a body-oriented approach.

Participants collaborate with each other to synergize their efforts

and, using case studies, make the material their own. 

Attendees making up their own movement activity.

Feeling safe ... building trust through music, touch, eye contact and words of welcome.

Hugging comes more naturally when it is part of a movement activity - and by bringing input to the body, it improves physical awareness and social skills.

Careful, firm pressure can increase range of motion while calming the nervous system. 

[Photo: Jennifer Holub]

Ellen with the Movement Evaluation Continuum a link between theory and practice. (See Methodology Folder)

_Tristeza

_{“A Tribute to Dore Hoyer”}

_{Choreographer: Heinz Poll}

_{Lighting: Thomas Skelton}

_{Music: Augustine Barrios}

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_{Somewhere Between Hours}

_{Choreographer: Manuel Alum}

_{Music: Kio Suziki}

_{Commissioned: Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival}

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_{Waltz and Liebestraum}

_{Choreographer: Ruth St. Denis}

_{Music: Johannes Brahms/Franz List}

_{Costume, performance, and rights courtesy of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival}

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_{Shuvi Nafshi}

_{Choreographer: Hadassah}

_{Coached by Donald McKayle}

_{Music: Cantorial, singer: Lieble Waldman}

_{Commissioned: The New Dance Group}

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